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(No Model.) O. G. LEE.

PIRE ESCAPE. N0.282,996. PatentedAug. 14, 1883.

N pawns mmmm mph w n gw D c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

ocnEN e; LEE, or` roUeEKEEfrsiE, NEW vonk.

" FIRE-ESCAPE.

`SPIIEKIFIATIO forming part `of Letters Patent No. 282,996,`dated yAugust 14, 1883.

` i Appelation filed February 17,1883. (Nomoael.)

To all whom` it may concern/ay Be it known that I, OGDEN G. LEE, of Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and v State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and eiact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specication.

` My invention relates to an improvement in iire-escapes` and it consists, rst, in a fire-escape, the combination of a suitable frame and the' ropewhich pass through it, two levers, which are pivoted upon the same rod, the roller, which is free to revolve in one direction but not in the other, suitable rollers, and a seth l screw, by means of which the speed at which the rope passes through the frame can be regulated independently of the levers; second, in

.a iire-escape, the combination of the frame having circular ratchets on its inner sides, the

4pawls, and rope, whereby the cylinder is allowed -to revolve in oneY direction, but not in the other, as will be more fully described hereinafter. i

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple flre-escape,by means of which persons can lower themselves from a burning` building with perfect ease and safety.

Figure l is a vertical section of my invention complete. Fig. 2'is a vertical horizontal. section, taken at right angles to Fig. 1. FigLS is a vertical longitudinal section of the roller. Fig; 4 is a detail view of one of the ratchets,

' showing its end beveled. I

A represents a suitable rectangular frame, which has an opening through both of its ends for the rope B to pass freely through. In theupper part of thisl frame is the cross bar or rod C, upon which are pivoted the two brake levers D D. Each of these levers are grooved ontheir inner sides, andwhile one, D,'is recessed at its upper end, theother, D', has a corresponding cam formed thereon, so as to clamp` the rope tightly in the recess formed in 'the other lever. The rope, in passing down between these two levers, can have any de- 5`o `sired amount of pressure applied tofit by the person who is using the escape, and thus regulate the rapidity [with which the descent is made. Below the lower ends of these levers is secured a suitable drum or cylinder, G, around which the rope is made to pass for the purpose of exerting a frictional contact upon the rope, andthus prevent the rope from pass' ing through the frame too rapidly, even if the levers should escape from the hands of the person making the descent.

In one or both ends of the cylinder G are recessed suitable spring-actuated pawls, a, which have their endsbeveled in one direction, so that the drum will slip idly around, but which ends engage with the circular ratchets c,made in the inner side of the frame, when the drum is turned in the opposite direction and stop all motionin that direction. The drum or cylinder G does not revolve while the uperson is making his descent, for`it is intended that this drum should then exert as much frictional contact as possible upon the rope. IVhen, however, the rope is being drawn back for the pur pose of making another descent, the cylinder revolves freely, so as to allow the rope to be drawn easily through the fr aine.

In the lower end of the frame is placeda stationary roller, I, and to one side of it, and in a line therewith, is placed ayseeond roller, K, which moves freely back and forth in a suitable slot made for its journals.

,Between the outerside bar, J, through which the set-screw O passes, is passed a sliding plate, I), which bears against the slidingroller, and through which the pressure of the set-screw is transferred to the rope. Either before or after the operator has begun the descent the set-screw can be tightened, so` as to exert such a pressure upon the rope that the operator will descend very slowly, or the rollers can be loosened so that the descent can be accelerated as necessity may require. These lower rollers can be made of iron, rubber, or any other ma terial which may be preferred, and the bars in which they are placed, the bearing-plate, and cross-bar will be made of iron, so as to prevent wear and tear. Should the person IOO descent. The straps, by means of which the person fastens his or her body to the frame A, are not here shown, but may be attached to the frame on either side. For the purpose oi 5 enabling,` a person on either side to control the levers D D equally well, the two levers are hung upon the sanie pivot C, so that they can be swung toward either side of the frame.

Having thus described iny invention, I lIo olaiinl. In a fire-escape, the combination of a suitable frame, the rope B, which passes through i.t, the levers D D, pivoted on the same rod, the roller G, which is free to revolve in one I 5 direction7 but not in the other, suitable rollers, and a set-screw, by means of which the speed 4at which the rope passes through theV frame can be regulated independently of the levers, substantially as shown.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination of the frame A, having the circular ratchets c in its Vinner sides, the pawls a, and rope B, whereby OGDEN G. LEE.

Vitnesses:

v CHAs. C. MrLLs, S. K. DAVRROW. 

